April 20, 2017
‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ comes to McLeod stage
Peter Pan’s “origin story” comes to McLeod Theater next week with the production of “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
The musical play, which runs April 27-30, is based on a children’s novel by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson. The play opened on Broadway in 2012, garnering a Tony Award nomination and several awards.
The story focuses on the alliance of the orphan boy who will become Peter and young “starcatcher” Molly as they try to protect a truck full of “starstuff” from falling into the hands of dastardly pirate Black Stache, an early incarnation of Captain Hook.
A hallmark of this play, demonstrated on stage at McLeod, is the use of theatrical imagination. Things change instantly: a trunk becomes a ship, planks become an empire and perhaps most remarkable of all, cynics become believers. The play is well-suited for families, children of all ages and those who wish to be a kid again.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. except for the April 30 performance, which is at 2 p.m. Before the April 30 performance, director J. Thomas Kidd and Anne Fletcher, dramaturge, will conduct a pre-show story-telling workshop beginning at 1 p.m. in the C. H. Moe Theater. The workshop is free.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $6 for students and children. Tickets are available in advance at the McLeod Theater and SIU Arena box offices, by phone at 618/453-6000, or online. Tickets are also available at the door beginning one hour before each performance.